Search

The differentiation and development of preadipocyte into mature adipocyte

The spermatozoa become mature in the epididymis which is divided into initial segment and caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis. The water movement across the epididymal epithelium is important for creating luminal microenvironment for sperm maturation. Aquaporins (

Industrial vehicles have no vehicle-induced wind in operation mode, so they require more than one fan to secure enough air. Thus, a separate-type HVAC system with two fans is proposed in this study. Thanks to the two fans installed on both sides, this system can provide enough air, but it causes temperature imbalance. To deal with this issue, we performed a numerical study on the mixing performance of the several separate-type HVAC systems using CFD analysis. Experiments were also carried out to validate the numerical model. The results of the temperature and mass flow rate data matched well with the CFD results. Based on this validated model, a case study was done on three different HVAC models that have different configurations in the mixing zone. The results and discussion were done on the mixing performance and the characteristics of the velocity fields and pressure losses.

The absence of functional estrogen receptor α (Esr1) results in an overgrowth of the epididymal fat, as observed in estrogen receptor α knockout (ERαKO) mouse. The present research was aimed to evaluate expression of various molecules associated with adipocyte differentiation and maturation in the epididymal fat of ERαKO mouse at several postnatal ages by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The highest transcript levels of all molecules were detected at 12 months of postnatal age, except leptin which the mRNA level was increased at 5 months of age and was unchanged until 12 months of age. The expression levels of CCAAT enhancer binding protein (Cebp) alpha, androgen receptor, and lipoprotein lipase were decreased at 5 months of age but increased at about 8 months of age. The mRNA levels of Cebp gamma and sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 remained steady until 8 months of age. Continuous increases of transcript levels during postnatal period were found in Cebp beta, estrogen receptor (ER) beta, fatty acid binding protein 4, and delta like non-canonical Notch ligand 1. The increases of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and adiponectin mRNA levels were detected as early as 8 months of age. The levels of fatty acid synthase and resistin transcript at 5 and 8 months of age were lower than that at 2 months of age. These findings show the aberrant expression patterns of genes related to adipocyte differentiation and maturation in the postnatal epididymal fat pad by the disruption of ER alpha function.

Citrus unshiu is a popular medicinal herb in several Asian countries, in particular South Korea. C. unshiu peel (CUP) has several biologically active compounds, including flavonoids. Hence, this research aimed to label the flavonoids from CUP by HPLC-MS/MS analysis and examine their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. A total of four flavonoids (Rutin, naringin, hesperidin, and poncirin) were characterized, and their contents were quantified from CUP. It showed that the naringin is rich in CUP. Further, treatment with the flavonoids at concentrations of 2.5 and 5 μg/mL had no effect on the cell viability of RAW 264.7 macrophages. On the other hand, it decreased the production and expression of inflammatory mediators and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as NO, PGE2, TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, and COX2 in the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. In addition, flavonoids treatment inhibited the NF-κB activation by downregulating the p-p65 and p-IκBα proteins expression. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production considerably decreased at the same concentrations while antioxidant enzyme activity increased in the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Collectively, our results show that CUP flavonoids have the potential to decrease inflammation and oxidative damage.

Background and Objectives: There is currently no consensus on the criteria for admitting older adults to the intensive care unit. Methods: This single-center retrospective study evaluated the baseline and clinical characteristics of older adults admitted to the intensive care unit between January 2017 and June 2017; patients were analyzed according to their age group. Factors associated with in-hospital mortality were specifically determined using logistic regression analysis. Results: Among 582 patients included in the present study, 34.2%, 46.6%, and 19.2% were aged 65–74, 75–84, and over 84 years, respectively. In terms of clinical outcomes, although there were no significant differences in the length of intensive care unit and hospital stay and intensive care unit mortality, significant differences were observed in terms of in-hospital mortality, hospital discharge disposition, and neurologic outcomes at discharge ( p = 0.039, p = 0.005, and p = 0.032, respectively). Predictive factors for in-hospital mortality were age (⩾85 years), initial mental status (stupor to coma), a Korean Triage and Acuity Scale level of 1, underlying diagnosis of cancer, abdominal pain or discomfort, apnea, and a chief compliant of dyspnea. Conclusion: Compared to those aged 65–84 years, in-hospital mortality was 1.96-fold higher in those aged over 84 years. However, the overall mortality in our cohort was not considerably different from that of the younger population. Intensive care unit admission should be considered in selected older adults after evaluating the risk factors for mortality.

The epididymal fat of mouse is a part of visceral fat deposit and is divided into the distal or proximal part based on its histochemical characteristics. Even though the formation of the epididymal fat pad begins before the birth, a detailed adipogenic procedure of the epididymal fat has not been revealed. The epididymal fat pad becomes enlarged and expended with age, and expressional changes of numerous genes are associated with the maturation of fat tissues. In the present research, expressional patterns of adipose tissue-related genes in the distal epididymal fat of mouse at 2, 5, 8, and 12 months of postnatal age were determined by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The lowest transcript levels of fatty acid binding protein 4 (Fabp4), lipoprotein lipase (Lpl), delta like non-canonical Notch ligand 1 (Dlk1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparg), leptin (Lep), adiponectin (Adipoq), and resistin (Retn) were detected at 2 months of age, except fatty acid synthase (Fasn) showing the lowest level at 5 months of age. Even though expression of Lep and Fabp4 were gradually increased until 12 months of age, significant increases of Pparg and Adipoq transcript levels were continued until 8 months of age. The transcript levels of Lpl, Rent, Dlk1, and Fasn were significantly increased at 8 months of age, compared with those at 2 months of age. The current findings suggest that the expansion of the distal epididymal fat of mouse during postnatal period would be companied with differential expression of various adipocyte-associated molecules..

The fat pad defined as the epididymal fat is located at the head part of the epididymis. However, another fat mass is present near the caudal epididymis, named tail epididymal fat. The present research was focused to determine the expression of adipocyte-associated molecules in the mouse tail epididymal fat at different postnatal ages, including 2, 5, 8, and 12 months of age. The quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed continuous increases of expression levels of delta like non-canonical Notch ligand 1, leptin, and resistin as postnatally aged. The transcript level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma was the highest at 5 months of age, remaining at a steady level until 12 months of age. Expression levels of fatty acid binding protein 4, leptin, and adiponectin were significantly increased until 8 months of age, persisting the level at 12 months of age. The transcript level of fatty acid synthase was significantly increased at 8 months of age, without a further change of the level at 12 months of age. These findings exhibited the expression of adipocyte-associated genes which were also detected at the ordinary epididymal fat pad. However, expression patterns of these genes in the tail epididymal fat are different with those in the distal and proximal epididymal fat, suggesting distinct characteristics and/or functions of the tail epididymal fat.

Purpose: When hemodynamically unstable patients with blunt major trauma arrive at the emergency department (ED), the safety of performing early whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) is concerning. Some clinicians perform central venous catheterization (CVC) before WBCT (pre-computed tomography [CT] group) for hemodynamic stabilization. However, as no study has reported the factors affecting this decision, we compared clinical characteristics and outcomes of the pre- and post-CT groups and determined factors affecting this decision. Methods: This retrospective study included 70 hemodynamically unstable patients with chest or/and abdominal blunt injury who underwent WBCT and CVC between March 2013 and November 2017. Results: Univariate analysis revealed that the injury severity score, intubation, pulse pressure, focused assessment with sonography in trauma positivity score, and pH were different between the pre-CT (34 patients, 48.6%) and post-CT (all, p

The adipogenesis is a maturation process of pre-adipocyte cell into mature lipid-filled adipocyte cell. The adipogenesis begins at the late prenatal stage and continues until the early postnatal age. Because the adipogenesis and formation of adipose tissue persist during postnatal period and are precisely regulated by the action of numerous gene products, the present research was attempted to determine the expressional patterns of adipose tissue-associated genes in the rat epididymal fat pad at different postnatal ages, from 7 days to 2 years of ages, using a quantitative real-time PCR analysis. The basal expression levels of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein gamma, sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1, fatty acid binding protein 4, adiponectin, leptin, and resistin at the early postnatal ages were significantly lower than those at the elderly ages, even though a fluctuation of expressional levels was observed at some ages. The lowest expressional level of delta like non-canonical Notch ligand 1 was detected at 44 days and 5 months of ages. The expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) was the highest at 44 days of age, followed by a diminished expression of PPARγ at the elderly ages. These results indicate the existence of a complex regulatory mechanism (s) for expression of adipose tissue-associated genes in the rat epididymal fat during postnatal period.

Panax ginseng (P. ginseng C.A. Meyer, Araliaceae) is used as a therapeutic agent for various diseases. P. ginseng saponins, known as ginsenosides, are the main bioactive compounds responsible for its pharmacological activities. In this work, we have developed a new method of P. ginseng root processing termed solid-state fermentation and examined its effects compared with nonfermented P. ginseng. Mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce hyperlipidemia and then received 100 mg·kg bw

Column chromatographic separation of the MeOH extract from the roots of Dicentra spectabilis yielded fourteen compounds, menisdaurin (1), menisdaurilide (2), trans-N-pcoumaroyltyramine (3), trans-N-p-feruloyltyramine (4), 4-Oferuloylquinicacid (5), chlorogenic acid (6), 3-O-feruloylquinicacid (7), ferulic acid (8), protopine (9), Kaempferol 3,7-di-O-β-Dglucopyranoside (10), kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-7-O- α-L-rhamnopyranoside (11), α-rhamnoisorobin (12), astragalin (13), and nicotiflorin (14). Their structures were determined on the basis of NMR spectroscopic data. Among them, compound 1, 3- 8, and 10-14 isolated from this plant were reported for the first time. The isolated compounds (1-14) were tested for nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Compound 3, 4 and 12 significantly inhibited NO production. Moreover, Compound 3 suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) in a dose- dependent manner. These data suggest that compound 3 possess anti-inflammatory activity and might be useful natural materials for development of anti-inflammatory agent.

In the multicellular tissue, cell-cell interaction is important for a precise control of its function. The exchange of signaling molecules between adjacent cells via connexon allows the functional harmony of cells in the tissue. The present research was to determine the presence and expressional patterns of connexin (Cx) isoforms in the rat epididymal fat during postnatal development using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Of 13 Cx isoforms examined, expression of 11 Cx isoforms in the epididymal fat during postnatal development was detected. These Cx isoforms include Cx26, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx32, Cx33, Cx36, Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, Cx45, and Cx50. Expressional levels of all Cx isoforms at 1 and 2 years of age were significantly higher than those at the early postnatal ages, such as 7 days, 14 days, and 24 days of ages. Except Cx33 and Cx43, the transcript levels of rest Cx isoforms at 1 year of age were significantly lower than that at 2 years of age. In addition, expressional patterns of Cx isoforms between 7 days and 5 months of ages generally varied according to the isoform. The existence of various Cx isoforms in the rat epididymal fat has been identified and expression of each Cx isoform in the epididymal fat during postnatal development has shown a particular pattern, distinguishable from the others. To our knowledges, this is the first report showing expressional patterns of Cx isoforms at transcript level in the epididymal fat at various postnatal ages.